Vehicle-step.



No. 668,788. Patented Feb. 2s, |901'.

H. c. wlL'soN. VEHICLE STEP.

' (Appliention led July 23 1900.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. WILSON, OF MENA, ARKANSAvASSlGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN T. KEY AND FRANCIS M. REEVES, OF SAME PLACE.

VEHICLE-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,788, dated February 26, 1901.

Application tiled July 23, 1900. Serial No. 24,579. {No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, HENRY C. W1LsoN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Mena, in the county of Polk and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Step, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle-steps; and the object is to provide an improved construction of .swinging step to be swung upward when not in use, so as to protect the same from damage by contact with obstacles, the step being automatically lowered or raised by pressure applied by the foot in steppingfrom or into the vehicle.

With the above object in View the invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fullyv described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Fignre l is a perspective view of the step lowered for use; Fig. 2, a bottom plan View with the step folded; Fig. 3, a front elevation with the front wall of the casing broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates a casing secured to the under side of the body of the vehicle, said casing consisting of a top wall having attaching-ears and depending side walls.V

B designates the step-supporting arm, carrying at its lower end a step C and having its upper end bent at right angles and formed into a cogged segment D. This cogged segment is positioned in the casing and pivotally secured therein by a pin E. The stepsupporting arm is provided with a brace F, secured at its lower end to said arm and having its upper end reduced to form a journal supported in a bearing formed in a strap G, secured to a block H, which is attached to the under side of the body.

Extending transversely through the casing is a rock-shaft I, which carries upon the inside of the casing a cogged segment J, meshing with the cogged segment of the step-supporting arm. The inner end of the shaft projects from the casing and is threaded to receive a nut K, and interposed between said nut and the wall of the casing is a springwasher L. The outer end of the rock-shaft projects some little distance from the casing and carries a transversely-extending arm M, which arm supports at its respective ends the smaller' or auxiliary steps N. Thus the rocking shaft is provided with auxiliary steps, which are disposed laterally and on opposite sides thereof.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the above description, it being apparent that the pressure of the foot upon one of the auxiliary steps will cause the rock-shaft to be operated in one direction and the main step swung downwardly, while a-pressure upon the other auxiliary step will cause said shaft to rotate in a reverse direction and swing the main step upwardly out of the way of all obstacles. The downward movement of the step-supporting arm is limited by a shoulder O, formed on the casing and against which said arm abuts when swung downwardly.

By adjusting the nut against the springwasher the parts are prevented from becoming loose through wearing thereof and the step held in its raised position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

' l. The combination with a swinging vehicle-step,of a pressure-operated auxiliary step, and an operative connection between said steps, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a swinging vehicle-step, of a rocking auxiliary step, and an operative connection between said steps, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a swinging vehicle-step, of rocking` auxiliary steps, and an operative connection between said auxiliary steps and the main steps, su bstantially as described.

4. In a vehicle-step, the combination with a step-supporting arm, of a rocking shaft, gearedsegments carried by said shaft and arm, and steps carried by said shaft, disposed laterally and on opposite sides thereof, substantially as described.

5. In a vehicle-step, the combination with a pivoted step-support, of a rock-shaft, geared segments carried by said support and rockshaft,and pressure-arms carried by said shaft,

IOO

and carrying a step at its lower end, a brace connected at its lower end with said arm and pivotally mounted at its upper end, a roek- 1 shaft carrying a segment meshing with the segment of the step-supporting arm and pressure-arms carried by said shaft and disposed laterally and on opposite sides thereof, substantially as described.

HENRY C. WILSON. Witnesses:

J. F. TODD, C. E. Goss. 

